Burning in Water: Episodes
*This novel is currently undergoing a professional edit and has been taken down temporarily. The polished version will be posted soon and the sequel, Drowning in Flame, will be available in hard copy by the end of the year.
In a twisted world of coke, crime and murder, Bets Trent is on the run . . .
Content Note: Language, drug use, and potentially disturbing scenarios
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Episode 1: Uncle
He was pocket sized, with a needle mustache and a paper face. He didn’t look like a biker but he had his patch and it was always showing. He came through the door and threw two fat duffels to the floor. “$2200 a P.” His voice was gravelly. It was too big for his little body and he took his seat at the table. He kicked a muddy boot in front of him and li…
Episode 2: BANG!
“Jesus Christ.” I sunk back with my head in my hand. He went on, “we met them at an apartment building. They told Hanson to wait outside and I followed them up a stairwell.” His voice was weak. “They grabbed the bag from me. One of them kicked me in the face and I fell down the fucking stairs.”
Episode 3: Boomslang
The room slid sideways and I went with it. I couldn’t move and I couldn’t breathe. I drowned in silence and sulked to my knees. I stayed there, for God knows how long, until my lungs filled and the cold floor pressed up against me. I shook and stood on wobbly feet. I went for the cabinet. I hadn’t loaded a gun in years, not since the farm, and I reached…
Episode 4: Ermano
“What seems to be the problem?” “I pooped.” “Mrs. Castillo, as I said earlier, you should be able to make it to the bathroom at this point. If you need assistance, you can call one of the nurses. We can’t keep doing this.” “I can’t, it hurts.” The voice was old but childlike.
Episode 5: Oz
Blood rushed from my head to my feet to the floor. I shook. “Hang tight,” he said and left me there. “We’re done here,” I heard, and all was dead and quiet. I sat back and studied my cuffs and my hands. Time sat still and so did I. The Gaff didn’t come back. An officer led me back to the glass box and I looked out through watchful eyes. I saw Lando. D was…
Episode 6: Speedball
The desert was hot and dry and my skin was tight. The AC was fucked and the wind from the open windows whipped my hair into my eyes and mouth. The blow kept my eyes open and the beer kept me sane. I hadn’t slept in too many days and canker sores lined my carpeted tongue. The Gaff was pissed, D was missing, Baldy was retarded, Pretty Boy and two bikers w…
Episode 7: Opus
It was a shit motel and I fit right in. I was a piece of the furniture, rundown from years of abuse and debauchery. I’d been rode hard, put away wet. There were burn marks in the carpet, rust on the table legs and the TV was as old as I was. I drank and smoked it all down. D was a junkie. A
Episode 8: Taz
He jogged back down the drive and I turned the letter over in my hand. Offices of Hoffman and Hoffman, Attorneys at Law. “Fuck, I thought he was going to kill you,” Lando said. I looked at him, wide-eyed. “What is that?” I tore it open.
Episode 9: Mr. Mann
He’d cut his hair, but it was him. Everyone else turned their heads, too and their faces poked and prodded. My skirt was tight and I took short steps. I put one hand on the bible and the other in the air and Ponytail burned the side of my face. I didn’t look back. I swore to tell the truth and stepped up to my seat. There was an exchange between the defense and the judge, Maritza piped up, too. The Gaff sat stone-faced.
Episode 10: Capo
Nothing was real and I held my breath and my asshole tight. “On the count of attempted murder, blah, blah, blah.” The lead juror rambled off criminal codes before he got to the fucking point. I was slipping away. More jargon, and my hairline was wet. Taz’s body pressed against mine and I was glued to the jury. They stared at their laps or off into nothing. The room was paper mache and I wanted to tear it apart with my fingers. “We find the defendant, Jason Ward . . .”
Episode 11: War
It was only minutes before he came back through the door. He locked it behind him and peered out the window. I was still on the stairs, breathing. “Is the backdoor locked?” he said, walking past me. “I think so.” “Lock all the windows and shut the blinds,” he barked. “Upstairs, too.” I scrambled up and ran to each one. I tested the locks, over and over.
Episode 12: Bets Trent
Taz threw off the covers and ran out of the room. I froze. “POLICE! THIS IS A RAID!” they chanted again and again and their boots got louder and louder. They spilled into the room and stood at the foot of the bed with long-guns drawn. More officers cleared the other rooms. “GET ON THE FUCKING GROUND!” I hesitated. I was naked and the Jack turned my stomach.
